History
There have been two creations of the title, the first in 1889 and the second in 1900, both in favour of Alexander Duff, 6th Earl Fife in the Peerage of Ireland and 1st Earl of Fife in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The 1st Duke of Fife was the husband of Louise, Princess Royal, the third child and eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
Queen Victoria's Letters Patent of 29 June 1889 contained the standard remainder "heirs male of his body." Letters Patent of 24 April 1900 granted a second Dukedom of Fife with a special remainder that allowed the title to pass to the daughters of the first Duke, in default of a son, and then to the male heirs of those daughters. The title passed to the first Duke's elder daughter, Princess Alexandra of Fife (née Lady Alexandra Duff). Since Princess Alexandra's only son, Alastair Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, had predeceased her, the dukedom passed to her nephew, Lord Carnegie, the son of Charles Carnegie, 11th Earl of Southesk, and his wife, Princess Maud of Fife (née Lady Maud Duff). The present Duke of Fife is a female-line great grandson of Edward VII and a member of the extended British Royal Family. His heir apparent is David Carnegie, Earl of Southesk.
The Dukedom of Fife was the last dukedom created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, except for those created for sons, grandsons or consorts of the Sovereign.
From 1790 until 1809 (extinct) and from 1827 until its extinction in 1857, the title Baron Fife (GB / UK) was held by the Earl Fife. In 1735 the title of Baron Braco (I) was created for the later 1st Earl Fife.
The titles Marquess of Macduff (created 1889), Earl Fife (1759), Earl of Fife (1885), Viscount Macduff (1759), Baron Braco (1735), and Baron Skene (1857) became extinct along with the first Dukedom of Fife. Marquess of Macduff, Earl of Fife, and Baron Skene are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, all the others are in the Peerage of Ireland.
The subsidiary titles held by the present Duke are: Earl of Macduff (created 1900), Earl of Southesk (1633), Lord Carnegie of Kinnaird (1616), Lord Carnegie (1633) and Baron Balinhard (1869). Earl of Macduff and Baron Balinhard are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, all the others are in the Peerage of Scotland. And all subsidiary titles but the Earl of Macduff have been subsidiary titles of the Earl of Southesk.
The family's current main residence is Elsick House near Stonehaven, The Mearns, within the watershed of the Burn of Elsick.
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